Billfold



A; PETIIERSQHN Erm. I 2,036,493

April 7, 1936.

BILLFOLD I 2 Sheets-.Sheet l Filed Dec'. 3, 1954 A TTORNEY A.' PETERSOHN ET AL BILLFOLD April 7, 1936.

Patented Apr. 7, 1936 A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BILLFOLD Alfred Petersohn and William H. St. Thomas, West Bend, Wis., assignors to Amity Leather Products Co., West Bend, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application December 3, 1934, Serial No. 755,716

9 Claims.

and several compartments extending longitudinally of the billfold for the reception of paper currency, checks, notes, and the like, in spread out or unfolded form.

A further object of our invention is to provide a construction wherein the inner wall section and the upper longitudinal portion of the associated partition wall section of the billfold may respectively move and yield longitudinally relatively to the outer wall section to avoid buckling in folding the billfold on its fold line between the ends of and transverse to said wall sections, the resultbeing that the overlapping portions of the billfold when folded will lie relatively flat as required for an effective billfold device.

A further object of our invention is to so con-- nect the partition wall section of the billfold -With the parts to which the partition Wall section fis attached that the partition wall section may -respond to the folding action of the billfold to avoid buckling.

A further object of our invention is to vaccomplish this result with respect to the inner wall section by having one end of said section directly attached to the outer wall section and the other end connected within the outer wall section by a yieldable element of fabric or other desired flexible material.

A further object of our invention is to accomplish the result stated with respect to the partition wall section by having said section connected by an interlocking'tongue and slot construction with the pocket forming wall members which support the partition wall section whereby the latter may slide with respect to saidwall members and the outer wall section to avoid buckling in folding the billfold.

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the wall members employed'with the inner wall section of the billfold to form pockets at the opposite ends of said section, said Wall members being shown removed from the inner wall section;

Fig. 2 shows the Wall members of Fig. 1 assembled with the inner wall section of the'billfold preparatory to folding into overlapping relation therewith;

Fig. 3 shows the assembly of Fig. 2 folded into overlapping relation;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the outer Wall section of the billfold;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the partition wall section of the billfold laid in proper position4 on the outer wall section and with pocket forming wall members connected with the partition wall section by the interlocking slot and tongue arrangement heretofore referred to;

Fig. 6 shows the inner wall assembly of Fig. 3 laid on the partition wall section of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 shows the wall forming members attached to the partition section folded over the inner wall assembly;

Fig. 8 shows the completed billfold;

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the interlocking slot and tongue construction referred to, the parts being separated for the purpose of illustration; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line III-I0 of Fig. 8.

The various sections of the billfold, excepting the fabric section to be hereinafter referred to, are blanked out to the size and shape required from the desired flexible material employed for the billfold construction. Leather is usually the material employed for billfolds and the various sections referred to are blanked out of such material. The color and the surface ornamentation for the billfold will depend upon the material selected for the device.

The inner wall section of the billfold, as shown in Fig. 2, has a body portion I of a length more than half the length of the billfold and a ilexible fabric portion 2 secured, as by stitching to one end of the body portion I. The body portion I extends across the transverse fold line of the billfold and has an integral outwardly extending co-planar projection 3 at its end opposite the fabric portion 2. The projection 3 is disposed between the upper and lower edges of the body portion I and provides means for connecting the adjacent end of the body portion I to the outer wall section of the billfold as will presently appear. The fabric portion 2 is secured to the opposite end of the outer Wall section and allows longitudinal movement of the body portion I to avoid buckling in folding and unfolding the billfold. The fabric portion 2 is slightly shorter than the width of the body portion I so that certain of the pocket forming wall members to be presently described may be secured together below the lower edge of the fabric portion as indicated in Fig. 2.

The pocket forming wall members just referred to comprise three separately formed members 4, 5, and 6 as shown in Fig. 2. The member 4 is secured, as by stitching 1, to the upper edge of the body portion I of the inner wall section on one side of its fold line. The member 4 is secured to the inner side of the portion I along its upper edge and is folded over that edge to overlap the outer rside of the portion I 'and form therewith a card or the like receiving pocket at one end of the billfold as shown in Fig. 3. The member -4 extends to the lower edge of the portion il and is provided at its lower vouter corner with an integral extension 8 by which the member 4 may be secured to the outer wall section to hold the member 4 in its pocket forming position over the body portion I. The extension 8 lies below the extension 3 to be engaged by the same line yof stitching and to avoid bulkiness at the end of the billfold.

The members 5 and 6 are secured together as by stitching 9 along their adjacent overlapping longitudinal edges to provide a Section having a width twice that of the body portion I. The members 5 and 6 are folded into overlapping relation along their line of juncture and provide an enclosing structure for the end of the body portion I ,at its fabric portion 2 as indicated in Figs..2 and 3. The members 5 and 6 are folded over the upper edge of the body portion vI and not only provide a guide for the inner wall section in its endwisemo-Vement, but provide end pockets for the billfold on the side of the fold line opposite the pocketformed by the member 4. With the fabric portion 2 terminating short of the lower edge of the body portion I, the members 5Vand `(i mal.7 be secured together as by pasting along their marginal `edges beyond the lower edge of the fabric section as indicated at in Fig. 3. The members 5 and 6 have end extensions IIJ, I I whereby said members may be secured to the outer Wall section of the billfold for holding said members in overlapping relation with the inner wall section. The extensions I and II are so disposed on their respective wall members, that the extensions do not loverlap when the wall members are in folded relation as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. -This avoids bulkiness at the end ,of the billfold. 'Ihese extensions overlap the fabric portion 2 and thus may be engaged by the line of ,stitching which secures the fabric portion to the outer wall section of the billfold. As shown in Fig. 3, the pockets formed bythe wall members 4, and 6 open toward each other and are disposed on opposite sides of the fold linerof the billfold, which fold vline is approximately along the section line IGT-I9 in Fig. 8, and is marked b in the other figures where indicated. With the wall members 4 to 6 carried by the body portion I, the assembly provides a unit for the inner wall section of the billfold. The blank for the outer wall section of the billfold is `shown in Fig. 4. The blank has a body section I2 of the length and width required for the billfold and is provided with a pair Aof flaps I3, I4 along its lower longitudinal edge. These flaps are on opposite sides of the fold line of the billfold and are separated by a tab I5 integral with the wall section I2 and folded over and pasted thereto on its inner side to reenforce the lower edge of the section I2 where the wall is folded on the fold line The vupper longitudinal edge of the section I2 is reenforced by a marginal ap I6 integral with the section and folded over and pasted thereto as shown in Fig. 4. Section I2 also has integral end naps I'I, I8 which flaps are folded over the section I2 and are employed to close the ends of the billfold in the completed device. 'Ihe flaps I3 and I4 are angled off along their inner edges so that other flaps which form pockets, to be hereinafter referred to, are exposed to indicate the presence of the pockets and to permit ready accessibility thereto.

The bill fold is provided with a partition wall section I9 as shown in Figs. 5 to 8. This section fis laid on the inner side of the wall section I2 when assembling the billfold and extends crosswise and lengthwise of the section I2, as shown in Fig. 5. The section I9 is provided with a pair of pocket forming wall members 20, 2I. These members are connected to the upper edge of the partition I9 at its opposite ends and are foldable over the rpartition into overlapping relation with the inner wall section and its pocket forming members 4 to 6 after such unit has been placed on the partition I9 as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The members 20, 2I are formed independently of lthe partition I9 and are connected therewith by a tongue and slot construction as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 9. This construction comprises an elongated slot 22 in the partition for each of the members 29 and 2I. These slots are arranged substantially parallel to the upper and lower edges of the partition and are located .adjacent the opposite ends of the partition near its upper edge. 'I'he members 20, 2| are each provided with a tongue 23, which tongues are insertable into the slots A22 for interconnecting the members 20, 2I with the partition I9 as clearly shown .in Fig. 5. The tongues 23 are alsoV elongated so that they will retain their connection with the partition as its upper longitudinal portion moves or yields longitudinally in the folding and unfolding of the billfold, which movement is permitted by the elongated slots and the fact that the partition remains otherwise disconnected in the blllfold construction except for the herein- Vafter mentioned tabs which do not hinder such movement of the partition to avoid buckling in folding and unfolding the billfold. 'I'he tongues 23 are made elongated bycutting slots 24 in the members 20, 2| at the tongues, as shown in Fig. 9. These slots are substantially parallel to the slots .22 when the parts are Vin assembled relation as shown. The slots 24 open through the end edges of the members 29, 2I so that the tongues 23 may be inserted into the slots 22.

The members 20, 2I are folded over the upper edge of the partition I9 on fold lines 25, 25 to be on the oversides of the inner wa ll section I and its lpocket forming wall members l and 5, as shownV in Fig. '7. The members 20, 2l are so folded after the inner wall section has been placed on the partition I9, as shown in said figure. TheY members 20, 2I extend close to the lower edge of the inner wall section and ,provide pockets with the wall members 4, 5'of that section. The inner or opposed edges of the members 2D, 2I are angularly cut away, asy shown in the drawings., sorthat said members will expose portions of the wall members 4, 5 to make their pockets readily discernible and also to allow access to be had to the pockets'forlned by the members 29, 2l along the;` free upper edges. In addition to being secured to the outer wall section I2 beyond the ends of the partition I9, which is made short enough for the purpose, the members 2Q, 2| are retained in their pocket forming relation by tabs 26, 26 on the partition I9 at its lower edge. These tabs are on opposite sidesof the fold line of the billfold and are lfolded over the lower edges of the inner vwall section I and its pocket forming wall members 4, 5, and E and also over the lower edges of the members 20, 2.I when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 7. The tabs 26 are located adjacent the opposed. ends of the members 28, 2l and are secured, as by pasting, to the outer sides of said members. To avoid bulkiness at the tabs, the members 4, 5 are notched at 2'I, 21 where the extensions 28, 28 on the members 20, 2l extend to be engaged by the tabs.

After the parts have been assembled as in Fig. 7, the aps I3, I4 on the outer wall section I2 are folded upwardly along the lower edge of said section to overlap the wall forming members 20, 2i and also the tabs 26 which are concealed by the ilaps I3, I4 as is apparent from Fig. 8. The flaps I1, I8 at the ends of the outer wall section I2 are then folded over the flaps I3, I4 and are secured thereto by pasting and `by lines of stitching 29, 29, one at each end of the billfold. The aps II, I8 close the ends of the several pockets at the ends of the billfold and also close the ends of the longitudinal compartments which are provided between the partition I9 and the inner and the outer wall sections I and I2, respectively. The aps I3, I9 close the lower edges of these pockets and also the lower edges of the compartments, except for the short distance between the aps in the region of the fold liney b'. As before stated, the aps I3. I4 are angled 01T to expose the wall forming members 2U, 2| and also to permit access to be had to the pockets which they provide at the opposite ends of the billfold.

The stitching 29 also engages the -outer wall section I2, the wall forming members 28, 2|, the

'fabric section 2, the extension 3 on the inner wall section I, and the extensions 8, I0, and II on the wall forming members 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Thus, the parts referred to are secured together and in place in the billfold construction; The ends Vof the partition I9 tenninate short of this stitching and thus the upper ylongitudinal portion of the partition is free to slide or move endwise to avoid buckling in folding the billfold. Also the fabric section 2 permits the inner wall section I to yield or slide in this movement, and buckling of this section is avoided. This is an important feature of the construction as the billfold is retained iiat when its parts are folded and overlapped even though carrying cards, checks, and paper currency in its respective pockets and compartments.

As shown in Fig. 8, cutting away of the various wall forming members for the pockets along inclines indicates the presence of the pockets and also exposes portions of the wall forming members whereby access may be readily had to the pockets. It will be noted from Fig. 8 that lthe billfold is provided with three end pockets at each end of the billfold and that'the pockets are om opposite sides of the fold rline bl. The innermost end pockets, marked A, A, are accese sible from the outer side of the inner wall forming section I and these pockets open inwardly toward the fold line b. The next two pockets, marked B,'B, also open inwardly toward the fold line and also open upwardly along the inclined upper edges of the wall members 2U, 2|, respectively. The next two pockets, marked C, C, are

similarly arranged and accessible. The pocket formed by the wall member 6 is behind the section I and its fabric portion 2, as shown in Fig. 2.

The longitudinally extending vcompartments heretofore referred to are marked D and E, respectively, in Figs. 8 and 10. The compartment D is formed by the partition I9 and the outer wall I 2.v 'I'he compartment E is formed by the partition and the inner wall section I. These compartments are provided to receive checks, notes, and paper currency, respectively. The compartment D opens along the full length of the billfold. The compartment E also opens along the full length of the billfold, except where it is embraced at its ends bythe portions of the wall members 20, 2| where they i'old over the upper edge of the partition. These portions are relatively short and do not hinder accessibility to the compartment E.

One of the important features of the billfold construction herein disclosed is with respect to enabling relative longitudinal movement to be had with respect to the inner wall section I and the. partition wall section I9. The exible fabric section 2 provides for this movement with respect to section I, while the interlocking tongue and slot construction heretofore described provides for this movement With respect to the partition wall section I9. This has the advantage of avoiding buckling of the billfold along the line of fold and thus the folded sections may be retained in flatwise relation even though the billfold is carrying checks, notes, memoranda cards, etc. in its various pockets and longitudinal compartments.

Another important feature of the invention is with respect to having the wall forming members 5 and 6 embrace the inner wall section I2 over one longitudinal edge. This not only provides end pockets at these members, but also provides a compartment in which the wall section I and its fabric section 2 are slidably mounted. This construction also avoids the necessity and expense of a duplicate fabric section, one at each end of the inner wall section I as in billfold constructions heretofore placed on'the market. In addition, the construction is extremely simple and is of a character not only enabling the billfold to be readily assembled, but avoids the expense of excessive stitching, thereby producing a construction which can be manufactured commercially on a large production basis. Also the billfold has a large number of end pockets at opposite ends of the construction, which pockets are not only readily accessible and visible, but have a slanting or inclined appearance on the inside of lthe billfoldY which adds greatly to its ornate features.

The details of construction and arrangement of parts shown and described can be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a billfold of the character described, overlapping wall sections providing a compartment extending longitudinally of the billfold and opening along the upper longitudinal edge thereof, pocket forming wall members at the opposite ends of said wall sections and secured at their outer ends to the outer ends cf the outermost wall section, and means connecting the innermost wall section to the pocket forming wall members comprisingI tongues at the upper edges of said wall members adjacent their outer ends and having interlocking connection with elongated slots in the adjacent portions of the innermost wall section, and tabs at the lower edge 'of the innermost wall section overlapping and secured to the adjacent portions of said wall members at their inner lower ends.

2. In a billfold of the character described, Iin*- ner and outer wall sections extending longitudinally of the billfold, said inner wall section being secured at one end only to the outer Wall section at one end of the billfold and having its opposite end terminating short of the other end of said outer wall section, a iiexible section connecting the last named end of the inner wall section to the adjacent end of the outer wall section, whereby the inner wall 'section may have longitudinal movement relatively to the outer wall section in folding the billfold, and .pocket forming vwall members at the opposite 'ends of the inner wall section and secured at their outer ends to the outer ends of the outer wall section, the Wall -rn'ernber at one end of the billfold being also secured to the inner wall .section along one longitudinal edge thereof and overlapping the outer side of said section, the wall member at the opposite end of 'the billfold embracing the inner wall section over the flexible section and having portions on opposite sides of the `iiexible section and the adjacent portion of the inner wall section and secured together along one edge of the flexible section.

3. In a billfold of the character described, inner and outer wall sections and an interposed partition wall section, said sections being arranged in overlapping relation and providing compartments 'extending longitudinally of the lbillfold vand opening along the upper edge thereof, pocket forming wall members at each end of -the billfold and disposed on opposite sides of the transverse fold line thereof, certain iof said wall members being associated with the 'inner wall section and forming therewith pockets 'terminating short of the fold line and opening 'toward the same., the others of said wall members overlapping the first mentioned wall members and forming therewith pockets opening 'upwardly along the upper edges of the second mentioned wall members, fmeans connecting the second mentioned wall members with the partition vwall sec'- tion over the upper and the lower edges lof the inner wall section, 'and flaps carried by the outer wall section and overlapping the pocket forming wall members to close the compartments and the pockets at their ends an-d along their lower edges, respectively, certain of said flaps overlapping the second mentioned wall members and forming therewith pockets which open along the upper edges of said flaps.

4. In a billfoldvof the character described, inner and outer wall sections and. an interposed partition wall section, said sections being arranged in overlapping relation and providing compartments extending longitudinally of the billfold and opening along the upper edge thereof, wall members secured to the outer wall section at the opposite ends of the billfold and overlapping the inner wall section on the outer side thereof to provide pockets at the opposite endsfof the billfold, said wall members having portions having an interlocking connection with the partition wall section, and extending over the upper edges of the inner and partition wall sections, respectively, at the ends of the billfold, and tabs connecting the partition wall section to said wall members at the lower edge of the partition wall section to maintain the wall members in overlapping relation with the inner wall section.

5. In a billfold of the character described, overlapping wall sections providing a compartment extending longitudinally of the billfold and opening along the upper longitudinal edge thereof, pocket forming wall members at the opposite yends of said wall sections and 'secured at their outer ends to the outer ends of the outermost wall section, and means connecting the innermost wall section at its upper and lower longitudinal'edges to the pocket forming wall members, the connection between the lower edge of the innermost Wall section and the pocket forming wall members being located adjacent the inner ends of said wall members, the connection between the upper edge of the innermost wall section and the wall members being adjacent the outer ends of the latter and comprising an interlocking formation constructed and arranged whereby the upper longitudinal portion of said innermost wall section may yield longitudinally or the billfold with respect to the wall members in folding and unfolding the billfold on a fold line intermediate the ends of and transverse to said wall sections.

6. In a billfold `of the character described, overlapping wall sections providing a compartment extending longitudinally of the billfold and opening along the upper longitudinal 'edge thereof, pocket 'forming wall members at lthe opposite ends of the billfold and secured at their outer ends to the outer ends of the outermost wall section, and means connecting the innermost wall section at its upper and lower edges to the pocket forming wall members, the connections between the upper edge of the innermost-wall section and the pocket'forming wall members being adjacent Y' the ends of the innermost wall section and coinprising an interlocking formation constructed and arranged whereby the upper longitudinal portion of said innermost wall section may yield longitudinally of the billfold with respect to the wall members in folding and unfolding the billfold on a fold line intermediate the ends of and transverse to s aid wall sections.

7. In a billfold of the character described, over-'- lapping wall sections providing a compartment extending longitudinally of the billfold and opening along the upper longitudinal edge thereof, pocket forming wall members at the opposite ends of the billfold and secured at their outer ends to the outermost wall section, and means connecting the innermost wall section at its upper and lower edges to the pocket forming wall members, the connection between the upper edge of the innermost wall section and each pocket forming wall member comprising an extension on the wall member embracing the upper edge of the innermost wall 'section and Vhaving a tongue interengaged with a longitudinally extending slot in the innermost wall section.

8. In a billfold of the character described, overlapping wall sections providing a compartment extending longitudinally of the billfold and opening along the upper longitudinal edge thereof, a pocket forming wall member at one end of the billfold and secured at its outer end to the outermost wall section, and means connecting the innermost wall section at its upper and lower edges tov said pocket forming wall member, the connection between the upper edge of the inner- Ymost wall section and the pocket forming Wall member comprising a longitudinally extending slot in the innermost wall section 'and an extension on the wall member embracing the upper yedge of the innermost wall section and having a tongue interengaged with 'said slot.

9. n a billfold of the character desribed, overlapping Wall sections providing a compartment extending longitudinally of the billfold and opening along the upper longitudinal edge thereof, a pocket forming wall member at one end of the billfold and secured at its outer end to the outermost wall section, and means connecting the innermost Wall section adjacent its upper edge to the pocket forming Wall member, said means comprising a longitudinally extending slot in the innermost wall section and an extension on the Wall member embracing the upper edge of the wall section and having a tongue interengaged with said slot.

ALFRED PETERSOHN.

W. H. ST. THOMAS. 

